BLACK BEAUTY
seemed to enjoy his pleasure. I had a good feed at the
inn, and was then gently ridden home by a servant of my
new master's and turned into a large meadow with a shed
in one corner of it.
Mr. Thoroughgood, for that was the name of my bene-
factor, gave orders that I should have hay and oats every
night and morning, and the run of the meadow during the
day, and "y°u> Willie," said he, "must take the oversight of
him. I give him in charge to you."
The boy was proud of his charge, and undertook it in all
seriousness. There was not a day when he did not pay me
a visit, sometimes picking me out from among the other
horses, and giving me a bit of carrot or something good,
or sometimes standing by me while I ate my oats. He al-
ways came with kind words and caresses, and, of course, I
grew very fond of him. He called me Old Crony, as I used
to come to him in the field and follow him about. Some-
times he brought his grandfather, who always looked closely
at my legs.
"This is our point, Willie," he would say, "but he is im-
proving so steadily that I think we shall see a change for
the better in the spring,"
The perfect rest, the good food, the soft turf, and gentle
exercise soon began to tell on my condition and my spirits.
I had a good constitution from my mother, and I was never
strained when I was young, so that I had a better chance
than many horses who have been worked before they came
to their full strength. During the winter my legs .improved
so much that I began to feel quite young again. The spring
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